Better access at Bannockburn Bushland Reserve

THROUGH the Shire’s Community Strengthening Grants, Friends of Bannockburn Bush has received funds to grade three kilometres worth of their reserve’s four-metre wide tracks.

Within the program’s environment and sustainability category, FOBB convenor Stuart McCallum said his team has been allocated $5000, to increase accessibility to the 405-hectare reserve.

“We want the tracks to be more accessible to prams, pushers, wheelchairs or mobility scooters,” he said.

“At the moment there’s lots of potholes and some of the tracks aren’t accessible, except by push bikes or cars, but we want to make the reserve more of a friendly place for people of all major transport, except motorbikes, quadbikes and four-wheel drives.

“We’re trying to encourage environmentally sensitive clientele. The more people are using it for good healthy recreation, and the less people are using it for burning petrol, the healthier the place is.”

Although potholes and puddles have made travelling throughout the reserve challenging at times, Mr McCallum is mindful of the valuable environmental role they can play.

“We were concerned if we get rid of them, we’d be removing some of the habitat for birds and invertebrates that feed on, or live in, the puddles,” he said.

“As part of flattening the road, we want to scoop out wetland areas beside the roads where the puddles can drain to, which is a delicate operation.”

The Bannockburn Bush Reserve’s terrain is varied, with red and yellow gum woodlands, casuarina forest, snowy mint bushes, rare indigenous grasses, orchids “you don’t see anywhere else,” and even plantation timber.

Works on the paths are expected to begin in November. Golden Plains Shire is lending FOBB a grader.

FOBB have a firewood program. If you are interested in sourcing some timber this season, contact [email protected].